The Visitor

My name is Edward Compton and I like to visit Lodges. In fact, I visit a lot of Lodges. Think everything happens at Freemasons Hal? Well, think again. Turns out there are Masonic Centres all over the place across our great City, and I’m visiting all of them: Masonic Centres, the old public houses where I predecessors met and places of yore with a bit of Masonic history. Part travelogue, part Through the Keyhole, I’ll show you Freemasonry across all of London.

For this edition of The Visitor, I had the pleasure of visiting the Avenue Hall Lodge at the South East London Masonic Centre in Penge. So that’s me heading off to Sarf London – very rare me going south of the river, but I am The Visitor and I visit. Two buses and three trains later, I arrived at Kent House station, a short 15 minutes away from the Centre (though I might have popped into the local Wetherspoons first). Located within easy walking distance of 3 mainline train stations and with ample parking both on-site and on-street, the Centre itself provides three types of Masonic meeting rooms: a large temple for meetings, 3 smaller Lodge rooms for LoIs and a room reserved for GPCs.

Anyway, like little Ronnie Corbett in an oversized armchair, not for the first time I digress. The building itself if very discreet – it’s basically a house. A big house. What’s good to know for the future is that there is a Travelodge opposite, so you can stay overnight if travelling from afar. Had I known, I would have brought a day bag and PJs.

The Centre was opened in January 1943 and a significant extension to the building was built in 1955. It was formally opened by the Right Worshipful Brother Sir Sidney White KGVQ, the then PGWG Secretary; in fact, this was Sir Sidney’s Masonic home, so the Centre has an illustrious history. Upon entering the building, there is a fully licensed bar, where the Brethren were variously deposited – not in a drunken state, I mean they were just mingling (and drinking) and talking (and drinking). Downstairs there is a large dining room with kitchen and on-site caterers. Incidentally, the Centre was also the beneficiary of an organ, donated by none other than music legend Rick Wakeman. If Rick’s reading this, I’m looking for a new piano – you can contact me via the Editor.

Avenue Hall Lodge was consecrated in in 1943 and therefore just celebrated its 80^th Anniversary, last December. I again attended with my ‘handler’ from the Met Grand Lodge Communications Team, Arena Deputy Editor, Richard Cavanagh. They’re still insisting on me being chaperoned ever since . . . well, we won’t go into that. All I’m saying is, if someone comes at you with a sword, it’s fight or flight, right? (I didn’t know he was the Grand Sword Bearer…)

As per all visits, we first went to the bar and asked the nearest chap who the Secretary was. He didn’t know, so we guessed he was the Initiate, Darren Erminsici. He was. But fortunately, the next person we spoke to knew who the Secretary was and pointed him out. “He’s the one over there in the black suit.” Thanks.

As you will have guessed, the meeting was an Initiation. The meeting room itself is quite beautiful, the walls adorned with Masonic art prints. At the beginning of the meeting, an announcement was made by the WM, W Bro Tony Oliver, that the Lodge was going to change the working tools currently in the room, explaining that the Lodge always uses the tools of its daughter lodge, Unity of Purpose, which sadly closed and, as a mark of respect, Avenue Hall now use their tools to honour its memory. So, rather unexpectedly, we had a nice little ceremony where the Tyler, W Bro Chris Simms, brought in the new tools to revered silence and then removed the original tools in a ceremonial fashion. It was a nice touch, giving Avenue Lodge a little bit of extra class.

The opening was excellent, word perfect, and gavelled with military precision. I knew from the start that this Lodge was very good. After the successful ballot, the WM vacated the Chair in favour of W Bro Darren Horan, who had proposed Dominic having known him for 27 years. The Secretary and DC left the room to inform the candidate that he could now sign the Initiate’s Book. Upon their return, when the IG asked who sought entry the Tyler replied, “The gruesome twosome, Bro Secretary and Bro DC on their return.” Oh Chris, you old charmer.

The ceremony itself was first class. W Bro Darren gave a masterclass of the First Degree – he was clear, calm, all the right words stressed and every line with the intended meaning. One of the best I’ve ever seen. The Junior Warden, Bro Robert Yeeles, presented the Working Tools, again excellently: word perfect and clear, demonstrating each tool’s use as he spoke (I like it when they do that). A special mention must also go to the Junior Deacon, Bro John Campbell, who was also superb, taking Dominic around the room, prompting as required.

At the end of the ceremony, W Bro Darren handed the Chair back to the WM and thanked him for allowing him to do the ceremony for his friend. In turn, the WM thanked Darren for making sure he didn’t have to do the ceremony! We then called off the meeting and had a nice cup of tea and a hob nob.

Upon returning to the meeting, Bro Darren Horan made an excellent presentation of the white gloves to the initiate, followed by an equally excellent Charge to the Initiate by Bro Kingsley Hamilton. Not to be outdone, the WM then gave a tremendous explanation of the First Degree tracing board. Despite attending numerous Initiations, I’d never seen an explanation of the First Degree Tracing Board. W Bro Tony Myers, one of two Grand Officers present at the meeting (with W Bro Alan Winter) then presented the Initiates Guide.

The Lodge then transacted some Masonic business, electing its WM, Treasurer, Tyler and various committee appointments for the ensuing year. W Bro Peter Harris was nominated as both the Treasurer and as a Committee Member by Secretary W Bro David Green. Amusingly, all voted in favour of Peter’s appointment with the exception of Peter himself, who I think voted to the contrary (in the blink of an eye he’d slipped into his coat and hat, and they had to drag him back into the room). I feared Peter was in a coercive relationship, being arm-twisted by the seemingly amenable and gentle Secretary (you never can tell, can you?). Anyway, Peter bounced back when telling the members they had to pay their dues or there’d be trouble, reminding them he was the only key holder to the bar downstairs: “If you don’t pay up, you’re not getting a drink!” Peter was fighting back; the worm had turned (go Peter!).

We then had a presentation of a Grand Lodge certificate to Bro Peter Thoroughood who had been raised to the Third Degree in March. This was presented with flair and humour by the Visiting Officer, W Bro Darren Keen, who made it both informative and amusing. Peter signed his certificate with a flourish and the WM congratulated Darren on a wonderful presentation.

Before the end of the meeting, the RA Representative, Darren Horan, stepped forth and recruited almost everyone in the room to the Lodge’s Chapter. Yes, that man again, Darren – he’s like one of those whack-a-moles at the amusements whose head pops up all over the place. Giving possibly the most inspiring recruitment drive for the Royal Arch I’ve ever seen, he individually addressed each member of the Lodge not in the Chapter and then gave them a form, a pen, and 10 minutes to fill it in. Darren also congratulated the DC, W Bro David Cook, for promoting the Royal Arch at the previous week’s LOI. For his reward, David was also given a form (much to his clear shock). Apparently, the centre hasn’t had a Chapter based at the venue for a while, but is now pleased to announce that St Michael Chapter No 211 is moving to Penge to become a Chapter for all the Lodges who meet there: what a fantastic idea! Not only will this bring a much-needed Chapter back to Penge, but it also provides a connection to the Royal Arch for all those South East London Lodges.

Finally, a special mention must go to David Cook, the DC, who is also the Preceptor of the Lodge. This was one of the most accomplished meetings I’ve been to. It was superb and each and every member of this Lodge was excellent in their ritual and floorwork. Much credit has to go to David for this. David was also a delightful host to myself and Richard, showing us around the centre and making us very welcome. We are truly grateful.

Now, I’ll tell you something here, readers. Listen up. The South East London Masonic Centre truly comes into its own at the Festive Board. When I told some other Brethren I was off to a meeting at Penge, the first thing they said was that the food is excellent. And, dear readers, it was indeed excellent. Using their own caterers, we had minestrone soup, a superb lamb shank (the meat dripped off the bone) and a healthy helping of apple crumble for dessert, plus a cheeseboard. At £35, this is no doubt the best value for money Masonic meal I’ve had. Absolutely superb.

The Festive Board itself was a delight. Avenue Hall is a lovely Lodge full of joyful people. Darren Horan gave a very moving speech to his friend Dominic, who has joined a fantastic Lodge. In kind, Dominic gave an equally moving speech to his friend Darren, whom he described as the Dad he had never had. The WM, Tony Oliver, also gave a warm speech to Dominic and entertained the Festive Board, from dropping and losing the actual pin of the forget-me-not pin when attempting to attach to Dominic’s lapel (as one person observed, “the one job he had…”), to graciously acknowledging jokes about his height whenever he rose to his feet only to be met with cries of “stand up Tony” (“I am standing up!”). And a final special mention to W Bro Chris Simms, the Tyler, who gave a beautiful rendition of the Initiate’s song – truly wonderful. I’m looking forward to his debut album, Chris Sings the (Light and Dark) Blues. Brilliant.

Once again, I won the raffle. What at first appeared to be a 32-pack box of crisps was a mere trojan horse for the real prize contained within… a bright pink flamingo hat! Apparently, I had won the WM spot prize of a comical hat to wear at the Festive Board. Did I look a right Charlie… Anyway, the Editor has assured me the photos will never see the light of day – that’s right, yeah?

What a fantastic night. The South East London Masonic Centre in Penge is a gem of a Centre. The Lodges which meet there regularly attend each other’s meetings and there is fantastic camaraderie between these Brothers. The people of South East London are well served by this Masonic Centre and it was a pleasure to be in the company of Avenue Hall Lodge. If you get a chance to visit either, you will not be disappointed!

This article is part of the Arena Magazine, Issue 56 Winter 2024 edition.
Arena Magazine is the official magazine of the London Freemasons – Metropolitan Grand Lodge and Metropolitan Grand Chapter of London.

Read more articles in the Arena Issue 56 here.